Pennrose Properties, Hyde Square Task Force Break Ground on 55-Unit Affordable Redevelopment of Historic Blessed Sacrament Church in Boston

Pennrose Properties and the Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) have broken ground on the redevelopment of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, launching a project that will transform a 71,000-square-foot historic church — vacant since 2004 — into a mixed-use, mixed-income community featuring 55 affordable apartments and a 200-plus-capacity multipurpose performance and community space.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined Pennrose and HSTF officials, state legislators, and housing finance leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Project Overview: Affordable Housing and Cultural Space in Boston's Latin Quarter

The Blessed Sacrament redevelopment will preserve the building's historic façade — originally constructed in 1913 — while adapting its interior for contemporary residential and community use. Architect DiMella Shaffer is leading the design, which includes converting the church's main nave into a 200-plus-capacity multipurpose performance and community space and repurposing the building's cupola as a community room for residents.

The 55 affordable apartments will include a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units available to households earning between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Six units will be set aside for formerly homeless residents. Pennrose Management Company (PMC) will serve as the property manager upon completion, while HSTF will operate the multipurpose community space.

"The Blessed Sacrament redevelopment is a prime example of how creative, innovative housing solutions can address multifaceted community goals, including preserving an underutilized historic landmark, investing in cultural facilities, and improving housing accessibility," said Karmen Cheung, regional vice president at Pennrose. "It is an honor to help create much-needed affordable rental housing in a resource-rich, transit-oriented neighborhood."

Once complete, the revitalized site will anchor the Latin Quarter and help spur continued investment on Centre Street, according to the development team.

Years of Community Engagement Drive Real Estate Development

The project is the result of a multi-year, cross-sector planning process. In 2019, HSTF and the City of Boston completed a Latin Quarter District Plan that identified the local need for mixed-income housing and community space. HSTF subsequently launched a community engagement process to determine the best redevelopment approach for the church site. Pennrose was selected as the designated developer in mid-2021, following significant stakeholder engagement to shape the building's program and design.

"This is a transformative moment for our community," said Celina Miranda, executive director of the Hyde Square Task Force. "Not only will this investment help relieve the neighborhood's affordable crisis, but it will turn this vacant building into a community asset that will include a creative home for youth and Afro-Latin artists and a gathering place in Boston's Latin Quarter."

Mayor Wu underscored the project's historic and civic significance. "Blessed Sacrament Church has long been a symbol of both history and hope for our community," Wu said. "The City of Boston is proud to support this redevelopment, which will preserve a cherished historic landmark, create deeply needed affordable housing, and provide a community performance space."

Juana Matias, secretary of Housing and Livable Communities for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, also cited the project's dual preservation and housing goals. "The transformation of this landmark into 55 new affordable homes saves an important piece of Jamaica Plain history while ensuring that more families have a stable and affordable place to live in the community," Matias said.

Financing: A Multi-Source Capital Stack

The Blessed Sacrament redevelopment is funded through a layered financing structure. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity is syndicated by CREA. Tax-exempt bond financing and construction period debt are provided through MassDevelopment and Citizens Bank. Permanent debt is supplied by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP). Federal funds are channeled through the Community Directed Spending program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Additional support was provided by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), the Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH), MHIC, MassHousing, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and MassDevelopment's Underutilized Properties Program. Specific loan amounts and transaction pricing were not disclosed.

"We're thrilled to create high-quality housing for low- and moderate-income households in a neighborhood facing significant market pressures and displacement," said Marsha Blunt, president of Pennrose Management Company. "Today's groundbreaking was the result of years of work, creativity, and collaboration, bringing us one step closer to the exciting day where we can welcome residents into their brand-new homes."

Pennrose's Boston Portfolio

Pennrose, headquartered in Philadelphia with a regional office in Boston, has an established presence in the Massachusetts affordable housing market. The firm previously developed The Pryde in Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood — described as New England's first LGBTQ+-affirming affordable senior housing community — and is currently developing 95 Everett in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood, an 88-unit, transit-oriented, mixed-income community.

The Blessed Sacrament project involves the adaptive reuse of a long-vacant urban asset. The project targets households across a range of income levels — including those at 30% AMI — with six units reserved for formerly homeless residents. HSTF will program the community space for youth arts and Afro-Latin cultural programs. The project's completion is targeted for late 2027, which would mark the end of more than two decades of vacancy for the 1913 church structure.